Way back in October,  posted an interview
with Erin Blakemore, author of THE HEROINE’S BOOKSHELF:
Life Lessons from Jane Austen to Laura Ingalls Wilder. 

Lucky duck that I am, I won a copy of the book.
I read it as soon as it arrived but am only just now getting around
to sharing my thoughts because I worried I wouldn’t do the book justice.
I’m still not confident I will, but am forging ahead.  

Ahem.

I have three words for you: Read this now.

Erin Blakemore divided her book into twelve parts
and assigned each a fictional character:

Self
Faith
Happiness
Dignity
Family Ties
Indulgence
Fight 
Compassion
Simplicity
Steadfastness
Ambition
Magic

For instance, Celie from THE COLOR PURPLE comes under Dignity,
and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD’s Scout Finch represents Compassion.

Not only does Ms. Blakemore highlight the characters’ connections to
those traits, but also the women who created those characters.

Wow.
As a writer who has experienced a fair share of the emotional ups and downs
associated with the pursuit of publication, I very much appreciated learning the
background on the authors’ lives.
(A sneak peek: They lived some turbulent lives.  Wow.)

I’ve read all but two of the highlighted novels (and will read those others!),
but gained fresh perspectives on all those heroines.  
Reading THE HEROINE’S BOOKSHELF was like having a private book club
discussion in the luxury of my own bed (yes, I read the entire book propped
against pillows.)  At the risk of sounding contradictory, I felt both comforted and
adventurous as I read this book; it reaffirmed earlier thoughts and exposed me to new ideas.

Do your literary soul a favor and read THE HEROINE’S BOOKSHELF now.